Rebels raided after 'beer in pub'

Mark Furler is APN Australian Regional Media’s group digital editor. He’s an award-winning journalist who has lived and worked on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast for more than 25 years. He’s passionate about fighting for a better go for locals. His awards include APN Editor of the Year, and involvement in three PANPA Newspaper of the Year wins for the Sunshine Coast Daily.

In a statement, police said officers from the Sunshine Coast District and Taskforce Maxima executed five search warrants at properties around the Sunshine Coast and hinterland early this morning as part of Operation Lima Birch.

The four men, aged between 30 and 56 have been arrested and charged with an offence under Section 60A of the Criminal Code relating to three or more members together in a public place.

"The charges relate to the men allegedly associating for several hours at a hinterland hotel in early November,'' the statement said.